Boat propelling and steering mechanism.



Mp. 656,692. Patentd Aug. 2a, |900. R. s. mcKms.

BOAT PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application led Oct. 80, 1899.) (No Modol 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

In l? MII.

MM@ QW, @y 711.3; @21H0 No. 656,692. Patented Aug. 28, |900.

R.I s. mcKms. BUAT PROPELLING AND STEERING MECH'ANISH.

(Application led ct, 30, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

rrnn STATES:

V.PAfrniw-r GFFICE.

4ROBERT SMITH DICKINS, OF ENTERPRISE, FLORIDA.

.BOAT PRQPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM.

SPECFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 656,692, dated August` 28, 1900.

Application filed October 30, 1899. Serial Nol 735,251. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, ROBERT SMITH DICK- INS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Enterprise, in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Boat Propelling and Steering Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. y

The invention relates to boat propelling and steering mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of boatpropelling and steering mechanism and vto provide a simple and comparatively-inexpensive construction designed to be applied to an ordinary boat for the purpose of dispensing with oars or sails and other propelling devices and adapted to be operated similar to an ordinary bicycle and capable of developing a high rate of speed.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

1n the drawings, Figurel is aplan View of a boat provided with propelling and steering mechanism constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4L is a detail perspective view of the seatframe and the steering-post. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the bearing of the propeller-shaft. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of stepping the steering-post.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a propeller -shaft disposed longitudinally of the rear portion of a boat 2 and extending through the stern thereof and carrying at its rear end a propeller 3, which is arranged between the rudder 4c and the stern of the boat, the latterbeing provided with a recess or inwardly-offset portion to provide aspace for the propeller. The rudder has a straight inner edge, and it is hinged contiguous to the stern of the boat at the top and bottom ofthe same, and by providing the recess at the lower portion of the stern the propeller is arranged inadvance of the plane ofthe same and does not interfere with the operation ofthe rudder or necessitate the same being offset from `the stern of the boat. The propelleris ofthe ordinary construction, and thepropeller-shaft, which is disposed at a slightinclination, is jonrnaled in a bearing 5, consisting of a substantially V-shaped frame provided at its top or apex with a bearing-opening 6 and having the lower terminal 7 of its sides bent upward at an angle and perforated for the reception of suitable fastening devices for securing it to the sides of the boat. The front end of the propellershaft carries a pinion 8, which meshes with a gear-wheel 9, having spur-teeth on one of its faces and mounted on a crank-shaft 10, which is journaled in suitable bearings 11 of a fork 12 of a seat-frame 13. The lower ends 14 of the sides of the fork are bent upward, similar to the terminals 7 of the sides of the bearing, in order to enable them to be readily attached to the opposite sides of the boat, and the extreme lower portions of the sides of the fork are bent outward to form diverging portions 15. The crank-shaft is provided at its ends with suitable pedals 16 and the gearwheel 9 has spokes 17 and 18, the spokes 18 being enlarged to provide the necessary weight and to balance the wheel. The pedals are adapted to be actuated by the feet of the operator and the boat is propelled similar to an ordinary bicycle, as will be readily apparent, the rotation of the gear-wheel 9 causing a rotation of the propeller 3.

The seat-frame 13 is preferably constructed of tubular metal, and it supports an ordinary bicycle-seat 19 and is connected by a horizontal brace or bar 2O with a vertical steeringpost 2l, provided with handle-bars 22 and having its lower end 23 stepped in a bearing 24:. The bearing 24 consists of a. block or plate provided with a socket and having suitable perforations for the reception of fast-ening devices for securing it to the bottom of the boat. The steering-post is supported, near its lower end,by a substantially V--shaped bearing 25, constructed similar to the bearing before described, with the exception that the bearing-opening 26 is arranged vertically. The front end of thehorizontal bar or brace 20 is provided with a bearing 27 to receive the upper portion of the steering-post, and

loo

the latter is provided at its lower portion with laterally-extending arms 28, preferably formed bya rod arranged in a perforation of vthe post and provided at its ends with eyes enabled to steer the boat by means of thev handle-bar 22, which is arranged within easy reach.l The tiller ropes or cords, which extend fromthe arms 28 to the tiller, are guided bysuitable pulleys 33, arranged at opposite sidesl of the boat, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen that the steering and propelling mechanism, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, possesses great strength and durability, that it is adapted to be readily applied to any ordinary small boat, and that it is capable of bein-g operated as easily as an ordinary bicycle. It will also be apparent that the mech.- anism is compactly arranged and does not take up much of the space of the boat, that it is adapted to be arranged close to the bottom of the boat, and that it does not necessitate a high structure which might render a small boat top -heavy and unstable. Fur'-l tlhe-rmore, it will be clear that as the power is applied directly to the propeller-shaft friction is reduced to a minimum andv a maximum speed may be obtained.

What is claimed is- In a device of the class described, the combination of a boat provided at the lower portionof its stern with an inwardly-extending recess, the upper portionof the stern being arranged at a slight inclination, a rudder hav ing an-inclined inner edge yfitting against the inclined upper portion of the stern and connected to the latter at the top and bottom thereof, the forked standard provided with divergin g lower portions and having upturned outwardly-inclined terminals secured to the boat at opposite sides thereof, a steering-post located in advance of the standard, the horizontal brace 2O connecting the upper portions of4 the standard'and the-post, the substantially V-shaped front bearing supporting the lower portion of the post and having upturned inclined terminals secured to the sides of the boat, the V-shaped rear bearing provided at its apex with a bearing-opening and having upturned inclined terminals secured to the boat, the propeller-shaft arranged in the rear bearing and extending through the lower portion of the stern of the boat and provided with a propeller located in the said recess, a vcrank-shaft journaled in suitable bearings of the forked portion of the standard, gearing connecting the shafts, and connections between the rudder and the steering-post, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in thevpresence of two witnesses.

ROBERT SMITH DICKINS.

Witnesses:

E. H. ToMLINsoN, D. T. WAY. 

